Spokesman Marc Maglari says Amtrak believes in security, just not what’s causing the uproar at airports.

“The amount of police presence, and especially the amount of canine detection presence is a lot higher than it was several years ago,” he said.

But intrusive body scans and pat downs?

“Not ordinarily,” he said.

Amtrak is pressing every available car into service. Some trains that are normally three or four cars are eight or nine cars long. Nationwide on Wednesday, Amtrak is carrying 175,000 riders, but Magliari said many route have some seats left.

He’s urging you to be flexible if you choose Amtrak, especially Wednesday or Sunday, which is Amtrak’s second-busiest day of the year. Riders need not leave from Chicago Union Station. Amtrak also has stops at seven suburban locations.

Wednesday is Amtrak’s busiest travel day of the year, and discontent over airline screening and security policies is only making trains more crowded.

Bob Roberts

Bob Roberts is a native of Wilmette who has worked in Chicago media for all but four years of a career dating back to 1974.
He attended St. Francis Xavier Elementary School and Loyola Academy in Wilmette, before discovering radio while getting his...